Posted 2015-09-18 11:24 PM Subject: OT -- truck coolant help
Rad Dork
Posts: 5218 Location: Oklahoma
My husband left yesterday morning in my pickup and left me with his. I started it this morning and it says to add coolant. We have blue coolant in bulk in our shop, but I was told that I must use the red kind. I went to O'Reilly's and the (non very informative) guy said they didn't have any red coolant, but sold me some universal stuff.
Can I really use the "universal" and if so, can it be mixed in with the red? I completely forgot to ask my husband.... And now he's back out of service for a day or two. Needing to use the truck tomorrow and I don't want something to go wrong.
Should I just keep checking parts stores until I find red coolant?
Truck is a GMC 3/4 ton diesel.... Having a hard time believing a parts store doesn't keep coolant in stock since it's not a rare vehicle.
Posted 2015-09-19 1:11 AM Subject: RE: OT -- truck coolant help
Expert
Posts: 2154 Location: USA
We use the universal stuff. We have four trucks some use the red, some don't. I couldn't tell you now which truck uses which coolant cause we just put the universal in all of them.
Posted 2015-09-19 1:55 AM Subject: RE: OT -- truck coolant help
Expert
Posts: 4121 Location: SE Louisiana
Coolant.... The whole idea is to prevent the water from boiling. Pressure cap. The last time I looked, most of them were 15 pounds (lbs).... Water boils at 212°F .. for every 1 PSI you add 3 degrees to the boiling point.. 15x3 is 45. 212 plus 45 is 257 degrees before the basic water starts to boil.. then you start adding anti freeze/boil...
At this point they started including the alphabet with the numbers and I threw in the towel.
Posted 2015-09-20 2:43 AM Subject: RE: OT -- truck coolant help
Why don't you buy a gallon at your GMC//CHEVY DEALER .... and be sure and let them know it is a diesel ... some antifreeze's will eat up an aluminum radiator and other parts ..
If no can find ... just add some water in your antifreeze plastic overflow bottle ... that is probably where the sensor is ... and your coolant is mixed 50-50 so you can add antifreeze after hubby gets back ...
OT -- truck coolant help
